Smoking, Drinking Affects Dental Fillings Finds Research

Smoking and alcohol abuse is injurious for your health. It not just affects your lungs and your liver but it is harmful for your teeth as well.

More so, if you have dental fillings then make sure you quit your habit of smoking and drinking immediately. As these habits might lead you to a risk of developing serious health hazards and if not taken care of on time then it might turn fatal as well.

A new study has found that drinking alcohol or smoking may not only damage your teeth but also lead to increased incidences of failure in dental fillings.

The study which was conducted by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that patients were into the habit of drinking alcohol and had dental fillings, withing two years of the dental procedure the fillings started failing and the rate of failure was found to be higher among men who smoked.

In addition to this, those patients who had a difference in the gene for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2) - an enzyme found in teeth were at increased risk of filling failure.

For the study, the team from America and Brazil analyzed dental records of 807 patients. During the study, the researchers also examined if newer composite resin fillings are as durable as traditional amalgam fillings, which have been in use for more than 150 years but which contain mercury, a toxic metal.

Meanwhile, here are a few natural remedies that will help to quit smoking and alcohol. Take a look.

1. Honey:

Honey is one of the best known natural ingredient that will help one to quit smoking and give up on alcohol. Honey contains all the essential vitamins, enzymes and proteins, that will help one to quit smoking.

All that you need to do is whenever you have the craving for smoking or alcohol, just take a glass of luke warm water, add one teaspoon of honey, mix it well and then drink it. Else you could just take a teaspoon of honey and have it.

2. Fruit/Vegetable Juice:

Drinking fresh fruit juice like apple, orange, pineapple or even vegetable juice like carrot and radish helps in flushing out the toxins from the body and aids one to quit smoking and alcohol. Whenever you have the craving for alcohol or smoking just make it a point to drink a glass of fresh juice it helps.

3. Dates:

Whenever you get the craving for smoking or alcohol just take 1-2 dates, dip it in water, stir it thoroughly and then drink the water. This helps in lessening the cravings and also help in flushing out the toxins from the body.

4. Ginger:

Ginger is one of the most commonly available natural ingredient that helps to deal with the withdrawal symptoms of smoking. When you try to quit smoking or alcohol, you tend to have nausea and vomiting sensation. Drinking ginger tea or simply chewing a small piece of ginger helps.

5. Licorice:

If you are trying to quit smoking as well as alcohol then licorice is one of the best natural remedies. Whenever you get the urge to smoke just take a small piece of licorice and then chew it. It not just curbs the urge to smoke but also regulates the digestive system.